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Bachelor of Health ScienceThe Bachelor of Health Science is a 3 year full time course offered at the Caulfield campus. The course provides foundation learning in health sciences with a global health theme and major study options in health programs and policy, and clinical and public health sciences, along with development of the generic attributes expected of a Monash University graduate. The Bachelor of Health Science also offers an excellent Pre-Med preparation (PMP) for graduate medical, physiotherapy, nursing or social work programs. The Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (SPHPM) is one of the largest Schools of Public Health in the Asia Pacific region. It collaborates extensively with medical research institutes, government departments, Non-government organisations and hospital departments throughout Australia and globally. It has particularly strong collaborations with institutes and other Schools of Public Health in the Asia Pacific Region. The Bachelor of Health Science is a flagship program of the School. It is a ‘new generation’ degree that provides flexible options for students with defined career pathways and serves as a substantial foundation program for students enrolling in graduate entry clinical programs.
Course Co-ordinator: Professor Helen Keleher What will I study?Course structureThe Bachelor of Health Science is made up of 24 units * 13 core units A major study requires a minimum of two units at second year level and two units at third year level. There are 6 core nits in Year 1; 4 core units in Year 2; and 3 core units in Year 3. Students take core units in which they learn about public health and its determinants, human biology, epidemiology, research and critical thinking, global health, health care systems, health and society, disease prevention and control and health law and ethics. All graduates will be equipped with scientific understandings requisite to postgraduate studies in medicine, allied health, public health, and honours and higher research degrees. Major sequencesMajor sequences of study equip graduates for inter-related vocational pathways in health programs and policy, and clinical and public health sciences. Core studies allow students to see the synergies between these pathways. Major sequences provide students the opportunity to pursue more in-depth studies of particular areas. Health programs & policy majorThe health programs and policy sequence prepares graduates to meet public health challenges in a complex, globalised world. Building and elaborating on core units, the health programs and policy stream examines strategies for preventing illness and injury, and health promotion for improving health of individuals, families, communities and wider populations. Students will acquire skills including program design, planning, management, research and evaluation; critical appraisal of evidence; policy analysis and design; and organisational and health communication skills. They will gain knowledge of different cultures, contexts and settings in which policy, program and prevention strategies are developed and implemented. Clinical & public health sciences majorThe clinical and public health sciences sequence also builds and elaborates on core units. It has a focus on detailed studies of research methods and approaches for public health program design, analysis and evaluation, clinical research and disease management and prevention in different settings and contexts. Students will acquire skills in critical appraisal of evidence, the design and conduct of clinical research, pharmacological and occupational health research, and strategies and approaches for improving health. Such skills can be applied in a variety of public health and clinical research careers. Electives provide students the opportunity to select complementary studies and/or pursue academic interests from across the SPHPM, the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and the wider university. Four electives can be chosen from outside the Faculty. FieldworkStudents in the health programs and policy stream will be expected to undertake a 180 hours of fieldwork placement in year 3. Course outline for the Bachelor of Health Science
Pre-requisitesSatisfactory completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or equivalent, including the prerequisites: VCE units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 30 in English (ESL) or 25 in any other English. Middle-band StatementA study score of at least 25 or more in biology, chemistry, classical societies and cultures, contemporary Australian society, environmental science, health and human development, geography, history (any), legal studies, literature, LOTE (any), media studies, philosophy, politics (any) psychology or sociology = an aggregate 2 points higher per subject to a maximum of 6 points. Non-year 12 applicants: ENTER (TER), the entire academic record, including GPA. Are there any extra requirements for Health ScienceYES. Prospective students should be aware of the following requirements: Police ChecksOrganisations which host clinical and community placements require students to have current Police and Working with Children checks regarding their suitability to undertake such placements. All enrolled and prospective students are advised that they will be required to obtain and pay for Police and Working with Children checks prior to undertaking their course. VaccinationsThe faculty recommends that all students accept responsibility for having up-to-date immunisations before commencing this course. Recommended immunisations include diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis and hepatitis B. How do I apply?Application for entry into the Bachelor of Health Science is through VTAC. Please refer to the VTAC website for closing date information. Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre Selection mode Current Year 12: ENTER (TER) Non-Year 12: ENTER (TER) Campus MapsParking on campusParking is available on campus for staff and students based on a permit system. Visitors to the campus have access to metered parking located at various points around campus. What if I am an international student?The Bachelor of Health Science is expected to be offered to International students in 2010. The faculty must first gain university approval and government CRICOS endorsement. Check the faculty website for the latest information on availability to International Students before making an application. International Student visas cannot be issued without a CRICOS code. Can Health Sciences be used as a pathway to other courses?Graduate medical schools recommend that pre-medical undergraduate education be as academically diverse and interdisciplinary as possible to allow students to prepare for the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT). The Bachelor of Health Science will prepare students in the biosciences and public health social sciences, with optional streams of study from health promotion, health policy and management. The teaching of biosciences includes laboratory classes, and opportunities will be available for community work, or for electives from other courses in the university to ensure that students have a well-rounded preparation for careers in the health services workforce or for application to graduate entry medical and health science programs. Career opportunitiesJob market growth in the health, local government, workplace and education sectors continues unabated. There is a strong demand for multi-skilled program managers and for preventionpromotion workers, particularly to work with vulnerable groups and ageing populations. Government directions for health programs are increasingly for jobs in community settings rather than hospitals, to deal with rising rates of chronic conditions and disease, as the shift from hospital to community based programs continues. Government and non-government organisations are constantly in need of health policy analysts and policy makers especially as health, social and other policy sectors are expected to develop partnerships and cross-sector partnerships and policies (i.e. transport and health, climate/environments and health). The Bachelor of Health Science incorporates multidisciplinary studies and pathways into career options via major sequences of study: health programs and policy, and clinical and public health sciences, providing broad exposure to the public health and clinical health sciences that underpin an understanding of health and illness in both individuals and populations. The course provides students with access to a number of career pathways in the health and social sectors as appropriate to the major stream of study taken by them. Students will be equipped to work in local, national and international contexts. Streams within the Bachelor of Health Science are available in:
Health promotion aims to prevent illness and injury by addressing the social, economic and environmental causes of health problems (e.g. social inequality, poverty, lack of transport, housing, access to services). Health promotion practitioners are skilled in working with people and at developing partnerships between different organisations such as those listed below. Programs could be about preventing injury, eating well, physical activity and exercise, healthy workplaces, preventing youth suicide, promoting mental health and wellbeing or healthy outdoor environments. Graduates may find rewarding careers in organisations such as:
Job titles may include:
Health promotion may be usefully combined in the Bachelor of Health Science with either or both health management and health informatics to provide a flexible and well rounded career path.
Health systems are changing more rapidly than almost any other field especially in terms of how and where care is delivered, who is providing those services, the technology required for those services and how services and healthcare are financed. Health services managers are responsible for planning, assessing and managing the delivery of health care and health services. Health management graduates may enter rewarding careers from a wide range of organisations including:
This course prepares graduates with sound understanding of business principles as well as policy, planning and project management. Graduates will have the opportunity to be employed at a range of organisational levels, from departments to the office of the chief executive. Requirements for senior level positions in healthcare are demanding but rewarding career paths, with opportunities to improve and make a real difference within the health care system. Further InformationDepartment of Health Social Science Email:
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